Chapter 45 Executioner
❀ Maeve ❀
I awoke to the warm rays of the sun on my face.
Rolling to my side, I reached for the familiar heat of my mate. Instead of the hard planes of his body, my hand met air, and then the empty bed.
I peeled open my eyes to see that he wasn’t there. Must’ve left early to search coves and caves for unwitting, sleeping vampires.
In my mind, I hoped he’d never find a particular curly-haired one with eyes like a gem of swirling blood.
My throat was parched, my spine tingling from just the memory of the previous night.
I rubbed a palm down my tender breasts and stomach, thinking, When was my next menstrual cycle supposed to be?
With a panicked screech, I jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
I had to find the pack healer and get myself a tea or powder, lest I find myself in a sticky situation.
Weeks of coupling with two different men who made no secret of their intentions toward the other could get complicated—and fast.
Snagging a small grape from the breakfast laid out, I shed my clothes. I hadn’t dressed, or washed myself last night. My mouth curved as I remembered Bastian taking care of me after ravaging me so fiercely.
I remembered stray kisses on my face here and there, and the blanketing warmth of water such as the one I was sinking into now.
My heart clenched.
The lies were getting too much to keep track of. I was sabotaging my relationship with Bastian for something unsure with Nikolai.
My face flamed.
He’d been there. I’d seen him, clear as day.
How had he found me?
Thumbing the gem in my chest, I remembered how it glowed in that cave. Did it also double as a tracking gem?
I gasped, my fingers clutching the tub.
Nikolai had felt my lust, just like the last time I’d felt his back in Blackbridge.
Emotions, summoning, and tracking.
Unfortunately, I could only manage two of those. I sighed, letting my body sag in the water.
I had to find my mother, and fast.
She got me in this situation, and she’d know the best course of action. It felt good delegating the blame, even though I knew I was encouraging it.
But what was I to do when a hot vampire tagged me his Bride, and a searing Lycan his mate?
Have both. Obviously.
After washing and dressing, I took a last look at my reflection in the floor-length mirror.
The black, skintight bodice supported my chest. Blue tulle flared from my waist down to the floor, trailing just a little past my black-sandaled feet.
I grinned, spun, then set out.
The hallways buzzed with tense energy.
Workers hurried past, bowing as I passed, but I managed to snag one—a girl who looked just a bit younger than I.
“Excuse me, can I borrow you for a second? I need to find my way somewhere.”
She audibly sighed with relief, then turned to pass her leaden basket filled with laundry to the next girl.
She gave an exaggerated bow. “Of course, Princess! I’m Eiden, at your service!”
Her friend rolled her eyes and left with both their baskets. I had a feeling Eiden had just escaped a chore she hated. My lips twitched into a smile.
“Eiden, could you help me get to the pack healer? I hope I’m not keeping you from anything important?”
“No, no, it’s my pleasure, Princess.”
I almost told her to call me Maeve, but her loud voice as she led me down the hall proved she wanted everyone to hear that the ‘Princess’ had sought her out.
Bastian had encouraged me to pick a band of maids to cater to my every need, but I preferred to handle myself.
Besides, if others already handled my food and laundry, what else would I need them for? Bathing?
I shivered just thinking about it. I revered my privacy.
My mind snapped back to the present. I noticed the tense atmosphere in the fortress once more.
“Is something happening, Eiden? Why do most look… sickened?”
She turned glassy eyes on me. “There will be executions today.”
My steps stuttered. “Executions?”
A hot, sharp breeze blew my hair back as we exited through the large front doors.
Just ahead, beside the large plot where we usually trained, was another foot-beaten plot that usually lay bare.
Now it was filled with parked cages full of people.
My skin prickled.
They were the same cages I’d been trapped in, the same suffocating metal pressing against every side.
Humans and young wolves, shoulder to shoulder, stared out with hollow eyes. The sun baked them, but no one offered relief.
Immortals like wolves and vampires usually froze into immortality at ages between 23 to 40. And most of the prisoners I could see, both human and wolves, were so young.
“Let’s go, Princess, you don’t want to see this.” Eiden gently cupped my hand, meaning to lead me away.
A burning rage erupted in my chest.
They weren’t just punishing rogues, they were about to execute children!
Meanwhile, those with just a bit of money and influence could frolic with the sensual and rich vampires without punishment.
Only the poor and unfortunate faced the worst side of the laws, even when they’d been pushed into it by fear and poverty.
I spied Commander Leif, expression hungry for blood, heading toward the plot.
His voice rang out.
“You were warned. You were educated. And yet, you choose to mingle with the very creatures causing havoc in Blackbridge. Now, they have their eyes on Ironwolf pack. Now you see why we don’t open our doors wide for you? Can you blame us?” He rapped his metal staff against a cage.
The inmate huddled.
Some begged. Some burst out crying.
Pack members avoided the area, choosing to circle the large fortress instead of facing those helpless people.
My feet moved automatically as Eiden staggered after me, dress bunched in her hands.
“Princess! You don’t want to go there!”
“Oh, but I must.” I growled.
Gaze locked on the shameless soldiers taunting rogues from Blackbridge, I walked over.
Just as I closed in, I noticed a wooden platform with a scaffold—the executioners’ block. The wood was dark and chipped in a bowl-like curve at the top. Dried blood caked it.
My stomach heaved.
A large figure stepped in front of me, cutting me off.
I looked up. It was Ashar.
His face was hard, blond braid draped over his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes down at me.
“What are you doing?”
“What you obviously won’t do. They’re children!”
“Not all of them. The children won’t be executed, only worked.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” I hissed, jutting my chin. “I came from Blackbridge; I’m as guilty as any of them. Will you execute me too?”
His lips drew back, showing his fangs. Golden eyes flashed.
“You best not yell that out irresponsibly, Princess.”
I stood my ground. “I am the Princess Consort. I have a say in these matters. Hold the prisoners until I present my case to the Alpha. Now.”
“And what case would that be?” Ashar crossed his arms, brow raised.
“To stop executing innocent people without trial. Sure, there are some that are criminals, but most of them just sell their blood for money. You can’t enforce the same laws in IronWolf and Blackbridge when the quality of life is so different.” I pointed a finger at the Commander. “Tell him to stand down.”
He stared hard at me for several moments. Moments where the sounds of crying and pleading rang out from the prisoners.
Without a word, he finally turned and headed for Commander Leif. The man was examining a crude, brown-stained axe in the sun.
I felt Eiden’s gaze on my back from a few feet away.
Everything moved as if in slow motion as I watched Ashar pull the Commander to the side to talk to him.
I kept my fingers tight on my dress as my heart thudded.
My eyes locked on the large axe. I imagined what would have befallen me if Nikolai hadn’t rescued me from my arrest that day.
What happened to the rest of the prisoners he’d freed? Had they escaped safely?
No. This couldn’t continue.
IronWolf’s persecution of Blackbridge rogues was unfair. Punishing them for mingling with creatures that could easily overpower even a lone grown wolf.
Commander Leif’s voice rang out. I glanced just in time to see him push Ashar on the chest.
He beckoned to another soldier, who marched to a cage and pulled a young girl out.
“Nooo!” the girl screamed, “Mercy! Please, sir!”
The soldier dragged her roughly by her hair to the execution block.
Fangs bared, I lunged, my heart hammering in my chest.
I raised my dress and sprinted toward them, every step heavy with fear and fury.
The soldier roughly forced the girl’s neck into the bloodied wood, arms behind her back.
Time slowed. My pulse thundered in my ears.
The axe rose.